A First Leukemia Diagnosis That Changes Everything
Émilie is 38 years old and lives with her partner Yann, 42. Together, they are parents to Noah, 9, and Elsy, 4. Their lives were turned upside down in 2020, just after Covid. “We were told that Noah had acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B, which is a blood cancer,” recalls Émilie. She was eight months pregnant with Elsy at the time.
The fight against leukemia begins. Two and a half years of chemotherapy, corticosteroid therapy, hospitalizations. Endless months where the family clings to hope. “It was followed by two and a half years of fighting. Quite long, chemotherapy, corticosteroid therapy, well, many things, but there you go. Victory, Noah was in remission. It was hard, but it went well,” she remembers.
Noah’s remission is a liberation. Finally, they can breathe. “So really, this is the moment. That’s it, it’s good, it’s over.”
A Journey of All Hopes
In August 2022, one year after Noah’s chemotherapy stopped, the family realizes a long-awaited dream: to go to Réunion Island. “It’s one of Noah’s dreams, which sustained us throughout Noah’s fight,” explains Émilie. This trip is more than just a vacation. It’s a symbol of victory, of life reclaiming its rights.
“It’s been a year since he stopped chemo and this is the moment when we breathe. We breathe because we know that in the first year after stopping chemo treatments, that’s when there’s the highest risk of relapse.”
The trip goes wonderfully well. The family returns home, lighthearted. Elsy starts her first year of school. Everything finally seems to be getting back to normal.
Leukemia: A Nightmare Begins Again
But a few days after the start of school, something is wrong. “After a few days, it starts to become complicated for Elsy. She’s very tired. And there, we say to ourselves: Well, this isn’t possible. We do a blood test, there must be something.”
Émilie and Yann have a terrible premonition. “I think we knew. In fact, we’d known for weeks, but we didn’t want to. We didn’t want to see it.”
The verdict is merciless: Elsy has the same disease as her brother. “We learn that she has the same disease as her brother. Also acute lymphoblastic leukemia type B and that we’re going to have to return to battle and start again.”
Two children. The same rare leukemia. How is this possible? This question becomes an obsession for Émilie and Yann.
Émilie’s Promise: To Find Answers
Faced with this unimaginable ordeal, Émilie refuses to give up. She sets herself a clear goal: to understand. “When Elsy got sick, we wanted to understand why and we set ourselves a goal and promised ourselves to give the children answers and in any case to do our maximum to give them answers.”
These answers, Émilie knows she can only obtain them through research. This is where Imagine for Margo comes into play. “Particularly thanks to Imagine for Margo, we’re going to be able to join a program, the France Genomic Medicine Plan, and perform genome sequencing and hope, or at least try to get answers.”
The genomic sequencing of Noah and Elsy could reveal crucial information: a familial genetic predisposition, specific mutations, leads to better target treatments. These analyses, made possible by research funding, represent an immense hope for the family.
A Fight Against Pediatric Cancers, Particularly Against Leukemia, That Continues, Carried by Hope
For 18 months, Émilie has been waging this third battle. Because yes, it is indeed a third battle: Noah’s yesterday, Elsy’s today, and research for tomorrow.
“It’s been about 18 months that we’ve also been waging this third battle. You need patience, but you have to be convinced, you have to stay optimistic. We’re going to make it.”
This determination, Émilie sums it up in three words that have become her mantra: “Go, let’s go. Fight, we fight. Win, we win.”
Why Research Is Vital
Émilie’s story raises essential questions that only research can answer:
Why do two children from the same family develop the same rare leukemia? Pediatric cancers have causes that are still poorly understood. Genomic medicine makes it possible to identify hereditary predispositions and improve prevention.
How can treatments be personalized? Each cancer is unique. Genomic sequencing allows therapies to be adapted to each child, for greater effectiveness and fewer side effects.
How can relapses be avoided? The first year after stopping treatments is critical. Research works to identify risk factors and develop more precise monitoring protocols.
How can sequelae be reduced? Current treatments, although effective, are very heavy. Research is developing targeted therapies, less toxic, that preserve children’s future quality of life.
Pediatric Cancers: Still Too Unknown Diseases
Pediatric cancers remain the leading cause of death by disease in children. Yet they represent only 1 to 2% of all cancers.
Leukemias, like the one affecting Noah and Elsy, are the most common cancers in children (about 30% of cases). Thanks to research progress, the cure rate has increased considerably in recent decades. But there is still much to do:
- 20% of children with cancer do not recover
- Survivors can suffer from significant sequelae (cardiac, cognitive, hormonal)
- Some types of pediatric cancers remain without effective treatment
- Relapses are still too frequent
Research is our only weapon to change these statistics.
How Your Donation Concretely Changes Children’s Lives
Every euro donated to Imagine for Margo directly funds the fight against pediatric cancers. Concretely, your support allows us to:
Fund research programs. Develop innovative therapies: immunotherapy, targeted therapies, CAR-T cells… These new treatments are less toxic and more effective than traditional chemotherapy.
Improve care protocols to reduce relapses and long-term side effects. Every child deserves to be cured, but also to live fully after the disease.
Support pediatric clinical trials that test new drugs specifically adapted to children. Too often, children are treated with molecules designed for adults.
Train tomorrow’s researchers by funding doctoral and post-doctoral grants dedicated to pediatric cancers.
Families Who Fight, Researchers Who Advance
Émilie’s story is not unique. Every year in France, nearly 2,500 children are diagnosed with cancer. Behind each number, there is a family that is upended, parents who hold on, brothers and sisters who grow up too fast.
These families need research. They need to understand, to hope, to heal. They need innovative solutions, personalized treatments, answers to their questions.
And researchers need resources. Without funding, no clinical trials. Without clinical trials, no new treatments. Without new treatments, no progress.
It’s a virtuous circle that each donation fuels.
Your Commitment Can Save Lives
At this year’s end, we invite you to support research against pediatric cancers. For Émilie, Noah and Elsy. For all sick children and their families. So that tomorrow, no parent lives what Émilie has lived through.
Your donation, whatever its amount, makes a difference:
- €30 finances one hour of laboratory research
- €100 allows financing 1 molecular test in the laboratory
- Regular donation: long-term support that allows researchers to plan their work
You can also get involved in other ways:
- Share our message on social networks to raise awareness among your circle
- Organize a collection in your company, your school, your association
- Become a volunteer to help us organize our events
- Talk about it around you: every informed person is a potential supporter
Hope Is Stronger Than Everything
Émilie continues to fight with incredible strength. Her determination inspires us, her promise guides us: to give answers to children, to understand why, to move forward despite everything.
“You need patience, but you have to be convinced, you have to stay optimistic. We’re going to make it. But go, let’s go. Fight, we fight. Win, we win.”
These words resonate like a war cry against the disease. A cry that we must amplify. A fight that we must wage together.
Because every child deserves to grow up. Because every family deserves hope. Because research saves lives.
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